Effect of Massage Therapy on Sleep Quality Among Elderly Women with Breast Cancer

Hegazy, Shaimaa Samir; Mounier, Eman; Awad, Ibrahim; Abd Elhameed, Soad

doi:10.21608/mnj.2023.322079

Effect of Massage Therapy on Sleep Quality Among Elderly Women with Breast Cancer

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

¹ Gerontological nursing department, Faculty of Nursing, Mansoura university

² Assistant Professor, Gerontological Nursing, Faculty of Nursing, Mansoura University, Egypt

³ Professor, Oncology and Nuclear Medecine, Faculty of Medicine, Mansoura University, Egypt

⁴ Professor, Gerontological Nursing, Faculty of Nursing, Mansoura University, Egypt

10.21608/mnj.2023.322079

Abstract

Background: Poor sleep quality considered a persistent problem that commonly reported by breast cancer women especially
in older adults resulting in increased morbidity, reduced productivity, and poor quality of life. Massage therapy has a
positive effect in improving sleep quality and promote relaxation that can be utilized as supportive care.Aim: Determine the
effect of massage therapy on sleep quality among elderly women with breast cancer. Research design: A quasi experimental
research design was utilized. Method: a purposive sample of 72 elderly breast cancer women (≥60 years) attending at
radiation unite of the oncology and nuclear medicine department. The study sample were divided into two groups; the study
group (n=32) who received twelve Swedish massage sessions, and the control group (n=35) who received only routine care.
Pittsburg Sleep Quality Index was completed before and after massage intervention to evaluate sleep quality. Results: After
6 weeks of massage therapy, sleep quality scores improved significantly in the study group (P<0.001) compared to the
control group. while within group comparison, there was a significant improvement in post intervention sleep scores
compared to pre intervention sleep scores for study group at three time points (baseline, at week 3 and at week 6) (P<0.001),
while did not differ in the control group. Conclusion: Massage therapy is effective approach in improving sleep quality in
elderly women with breast cancer. Recommendations: Development and implementation of massage training program
targeting elderly women with breast cancer to ensure high quality performance of massage sessions.

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